Writing a formal letter/job application
1. A I am writing in reference to your advertisement for mechanical engineer.
B I am writing because I saw your advertisement.
2. A There are many reasons why I would be great at the job.
B I feel I would be suitable for the position for a number of reasons.
3. A I have achieved high marks in my English language exams.
B My English language ability is unbelievable.
4. A I can say everything I want to say.
B believe that I have good communication skills.
5. A I am a major expert on machine building technology.
B I have always taken a keen interest in machine building technology.
6. A I would like to develop my career.
B My present job is rubbish.
● For an informal letter, which sentence, A or B, in the following pairs would be more suitable?
1. A I was pleased to receive your recent letter.
В It was great to hear from you.
2. A I’ll try and answer your questions.
В I should be delighted to respond to your enquiries.
3. A I trust you are in good health.
В I hope you’re well.
4. A I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
В Please write again soon.
● Look at these openings and closings of letters. Which ones are formal, and which informal? Which closing go with which openings? Match the variants with lines.
Dear Sir/Madam/Director _____________ Yours faithfully ____________
Dear Jessica _______________ Lots of love ____________
Dear Ms Bowles ______________ Yours sincerely ____________
All the best ______________
● Forms do not usually ask questions, but they ask for information. Match a line in A with a question in B.
A First name Surname Date of birth Country of origin Present address Permanent address Marital status Occupation Annual income |
В Where do you live? What do you do? Where are you living at the moment? Are you married or single? What’s your first name? How much do you earn a year? When were you born? What’s your surname? Where were you born? |
● Forms ask you to do certain things. Do the following.
Write your name in block capitals. _____________________
Sign your name. _____________________
Delete where not applicable. _____________________
I am a student/an employee/an employer. _____________________
Put a cross if you are male. □
Put a tick if you are female. □
5. Great ideas
● Read the text.
In praise of the tv commercial
Imagine for a moment you are the marketing and sales director of a large engineering company. Achieving your sales targets is giving you sleepless nights. The company’s share price is under pressure, the board is getting nervous. City institutions are questioning the company’s investment policy.
How can you generate extra sales quickly and effectively through your consumer base, and expand your potential market?
Suddenly, I appear. I have invented a thing called the „television commercial”.
It is a new and unique way of talking to consumers. Between popular programmes, I will sell you slots of time – anything up to 60 seconds. I will even negotiate for you the whole break, so no one else can compete with you.
Within this spot you can say whatever you like in whatever form you like. You control the dialogue, presenting your product or service anyway you wish.
Of course, the television commercial has been with us since 1955. Since its arrival, it has been one of the most, if not the most, effective creator of brands and wealth. So why is it that you can hardly pick up a marketing magazine without reading about the death of this medium?
Before you rush to the Internet, or search for some fashionable alternative media, look at these facts. The average adult in the UK watches more than 24 hours of TV every week, 60 percent of children have a TV set in their bedrooms. One in four adults watches the soap opera „Coronation Street”. So why do we read that the likes of Cadbury, the chocolate manufacturer, that sponsors Coronation Street, think most advertising is nothing but froth and are putting more money into programme sponsorship? Why did we read that Heinz was pulling out of TV advertising (it has since gone back)?
Could it be that as the medium has become more competitive some companies have found it harder to create advertising that works? The medium is not a guarantee of success. It has to be used imaginatively. Perhaps, this is the heart of the problem – it’s just that some companies find this process difficult to manage.
● Answer the questions.
W
hy
has it become so hard to find the medium that would work good for
the benefit of your product?
_____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
What slots of time are the most popular? ___________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Should there be some censorship in advertisement? ___________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Why do so many companies prefer to place their ad on TV? ____________________
___________________________________________________________________________
If something creates brands, does it create famous names? Why or why not? _______
___________________________________________________________________________
„
Coronation
Street” is a popular British soap-opera, with „everyday”
characters. What are the popular soap-operas in your country? Who
mostly watches them? Is it worth placing advertisement there? What
kind? __________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Why do you think some companies are questioning the value of TV advertising? ____
___________________________________________________________________________
● Which of the following ways of promoting goods would you name as the most effective? Why? Write your answer.
1. Internet advertising ____________________________________________________
2. Direct mail __________________________________________________________
3. Sponsorship of sport/cultural events _______________________________________
4. Tasting of the products in the supermarkets _________________________________
5. Coupons – pieces of paper showing a reduction that you can ask for when you buy something __________________________________________________________________